Chapter 21– Port Town

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Vallen Myers and Cecil, the two of them,
had the same destination—the Western Continent—
which meant they were heading for the port, too,
so we ended up facing each other the entire time.

We exchanged a few pleasantries along the way,
and during those moments, I mentioned that I, too, was bound for the Western Continent.
However, when it came to the reason behind my journey—I kept it to myself.
There was really nothing to say about it, and I wasn’t about to ask them about their reasons.
Perhaps they sensed it in the air, but that topic never came up.

It was a journey without any particular issues.

When the wind blew, a gritty air clung to my skin.
When calm prevailed, the scent of the sea teased the back of my nose.
Gazing out from the small carriage window,
the port town came into view.

“My back’s killing me…”
“I know you’re lying.”
“Am I giving it away?”

Vallen and Cecil, as always,
engaged in banter reminiscent of a comedy routine
as they stepped down from the carriage.
Then, looking my way, they said:

“Well then, young man. I enjoyed our journey.”
“…See you later, you two.”

Just because our destinations were the same didn’t mean we’d be on the same ship.
While I still hadn’t decided which vessel to take, they already seemed to have chosen theirs.

“Well, there’s a chance we’ll meet again soon.”
“That’s true. —Hey, we’re scheduled to board a ship called the 【Barresty】. Since you haven’t decided on a ship yet, do keep an eye out for it.”

【Barresty】, huh.

“Lord Harold, what do you plan to do? Are you boarding the same ship…?”
“Depends on the price, but if it isn’t outrageously expensive, I might just take it. In any case, let’s take a look around.”
“Understood.”

After seeing off Vallen and Cecil,
Atiy and I blended into the bustling crowd of the port town.

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“Heading to the Western Continent? There are several ships, but… it really depends on what you’re after. You’re in luck—there are all sorts moored here right now. Whether you’re after speed, cost, or even something akin to a luxurious liner, they’ve got it all.”

At the information desk by the entrance to the docks, I learned that this season was favorable;
various ships were docked here.

But with so many options, it was hard to decide.
For now, I’d ask about the ship whose name I recognized.

“Do you know what kind of ship the 【Barresty】 is?”
“It’s just an ordinary ship. Nothing particularly special.”

I wasn’t really looking for a ship with any flair anyway.

“For folks like you two, the fare on the 【Barresty】 comes to 2.8 million Lobs. It includes a small private sleeping room and two meals—breakfast and dinner. The ship also houses a few establishments that handle currency exchange and retail, though not many. …Its sailing speed is average; you’d be looking at roughly a month before arrival.”
“I see…”

“By the way, if you’re after cheap fares, there’s a ship with really low prices—it’s only 200,000 Lobs per person. But it’s a huge dormitory for dozens of people, only one meal is provided, it’s filthy, sometimes they even let in rats carrying bizarre pathogens, obviously there are no shops onboard, and the ship even gets holes and occasionally sinks to be salvaged.”

Cheap comes with too many risks.

I mean, if rats carrying strange pathogens are already a deal-breaker, and the ship sometimes sinks and is salvaged—can you really trust a vessel that carries people like that…?

“Lord Harold, even the slave ship I was on wasn’t that awful, you know…? We had five people per room, but we got two meals a day, and at least the ship was relatively clean.”

A ship worse than a slave ship…

I had no intention of boarding such an inexpensive vessel, but the appalling conditions twisted my expression.
Then, the attendant at the information desk let out a deep sigh.

“…Well, all the ships have about a week until departure. Take your time deciding. We handle tickets here, so come by when you’re ready to purchase one. But since the cabins might fill up, it’s best to decide soon. …So, is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

“Then, what about the other ships…?”

The attendant smiled and answered my questions in detail.

They mentioned that a luxury liner would cost around 10 million Lobs, and if you prioritize speed, the fare would be about the same as the 【Barresty】, but the meals would be plain and the rocking so severe it could make you feel sick.

After hearing all this, Ati and I decided to take a day or two to think it over.

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Evening.

The sun, now a vivid deep tangerine, sank beyond the sea.

The town was lit up with lights, and even though it wasn’t a festival, stalls lined the streets—selling things like roasted seafood and instant sugar confections.

The port town was bustling with energy.
Sure, the royal capital probably has more people, but it doesn’t have this kind of liveliness.

According to Ati, a bustling port town with many anchored ships is usually livelier than its actual population would suggest.

Anyway.
Since there were so many stalls, we decided to wander around, sampling food as we looked for a place to stay.